“How The Walking Dead Makes You Feel Alive”
“They are gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out…they’re screwing with the wrong people.” -Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead
This line has already been quoted on www.thelandofshadow.com and possibly many other columnists writing about the awesomeness of the hit AMC series The Walking Dead. I’m sitting back on the couch, watching the final episode of season four. I see three of the strongest characters finally enter a place of sanctuary after being separated from other group members. They are being faced with the only other conflict outside of walking corpses, hungry for warm flesh and blood—the will for survival amongst the living. What’s mentally compelling about this series isn’t just Mishonne’s katana , Daryl’s crossbow, or the scattered swarms of meat-eating zombies in the south part of the United States. Like any other form of televised entertainment, this show is a dead, swollen belly full of drama and great character development. My job in the next few paragraphs is to convince anyone who opposes why this television show is worth the watch.
One becomes intrigued from the moment Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) leaves the hospital, blinded by the outside light, walking out in a standard patient gown to a moment of instincts where he quickly decides to cut off Hershel’s leg for the sake of his life. What’s making this show such a success is not necessarily the endless red, chopped-off limbs, and excessive use of weaponry, making the second amendment the only amendment in a zombie apocalyptic society, but the characters who survive such chaos. I can proceed to analyze each survival, including casualties, but what makes the audience’s heart thrive for nearly fifty minutes is understanding what it takes to be strong and how to maintain that urge to endure.
Take Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) for example. Many devoted fans would agree that the guy is a bonafide warrior. As a character, he comes from an abusive household shared with his brother Meril Dixon (Michael Rooker), whom later returns in the series as a racist Captain Hook. Daryl will always remain a rebel, a true outsider, but his will to survive not only saves his life, but others who wish to live; good people that exhibit hope. Judging from the lashes across his back, it’s hard to fully convince Daryl that there’s a haven willing to accept individuals of his breed, including his dirty-mouth older brother. His first hint of compassion comes when Carol loses her daughter who is later found, “dead” at Hershel Greene’s (Scott Wilson) farm. Aside from his ability to handle a crossbow, track forest trails and hunt for rabbit, snake, and squirrel like a bloodhound, he knows how to protect his own. Daryl not only becomes an undeclared bodyguard for Rick and his group, but a non-conventional guardian angel (hence the dirty wings on the back of his leather vest). He confides in Beth Greene (Emily Kinney), being reminded of hope, for her heart mirrors that of her father’s.
Speaking of hope, no other character exhibited more calm persistence and warm courage than Hershel Greene. He represents that southern gospel demeanor of looking for the good in people before they allow evil to manifest. One of my favorite quotes from Hershel is when he quotes John Steinback’s Travels while tending to those infected by the disease in season 4, saying, “ a sad soul kills quicker than any germ.” Though Hershel often steps the boundaries of his own morality like the majority of the others, the source of his indestructible spirit comes from reading the Bible and knowing that man is capable of good. He knows that even though they are infected, living life doesn’t rid them from tapping into their potential of being civilized individuals. Hershel’s death leaves an open womb for the group, riding them of their only source of faith. Hershel may be dead, but his presence resides in Beth, his other daughter, Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohen) and most importantly, Rick.
Lastly, the strongest character of them all—Officer Rick Grimes. There’s no other way to explain how this guy went from touching a dead flower while lying in a bed next to an IV, wondering how much time has passed, to sitting in the street, back against a broken down Bronco with his beard and mouth drenched in blood. The list goes on: he kills his partner and best friend, his wife dies while giving birth to his second child, he loses group members daily, and has to watch his son develop into more of a man than he is before he even reaches puberty.
The majority of the group members possess the ability to walk the line between good and bad, but Rick illustrates the best well-rounded characteristics. Rick finds out that by killing Shane Walsh (John Bernthal), his partner, he must develop the ability not only to be perceptive and patient, but quick and rational when need be. He must learn how to exhibit the nature of both sides. Niccolo Machiavelli, the famous politician from the sixteenth century, would agree that the ability to find a medium between both extremes would constitute a good leader. Rick does this effectively by doing what’s best for the group, not for himself.
What really has me cheering in my living room is when Rick goes straight Rorschach on Joe’s neck in season 4. There’s a flashback to Hershel informing him to teach his son, Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) how to maintain decency and peace amongst himself. Carl sees that his father has reached a new psychological level of madness. You can see it in his eyes as he witnesses his dad taking a mouth full out of Joe’s flesh. Rick is no longer just a dad, a widower, a leader, and father of two. He’s something more, and according to The Walking Dead, that is how good people survive—they become something much bigger and dangerous than themselves.
As a viewer, I see myself in all the characters. I can see myself as Michonne (Danai Gurira), becoming a monster after witnessing something tragic and having to live with the memories. I can see myself as Andrea (Laurie Holden), unable to pick sides because you don’t want anyone harmed on either end of a fight. I can even see myself in both Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride), forced to become stronger when being emotionally weak may cost you everything, even your life. I also see myself in Shane, jealous of his best friend, returning like “The Prodigal Son” who’s rewarded with something he desires far more and may even deserve. What makes this show so good is its ability to make you apart of the migration towards endurance. It makes you pull the knife on Shane, burn Tyrese’s (Chad Coleman) girlfriend for the sake of everyone’s health, kill The Governor’s (David Morrissey) daughter, and shoot Lizzie Samuels (Brighton Sharbino) after she kills her sister with good intentions. It gives you every reason to tune into season 5 and see what becomes of Rick and his crew after they reunite.
- City Rag (2014)
